Rwandan online journalist killed in Kampala

New York, December 2,
2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the fatal shooting of
Rwandan journalist Charles Ingabire in Kampala, Uganda's capital, and calls on
the police to identify the culprits and bring them to justice.

At around 2 a.m. on Thursday,
unknown assailants shot
online editor Ingabire of the news site Inyenyeri twice in the chest outside
Makies 2 bar in a suburb of Kampala, local journalists told CPJ. The journalist
was pronounced dead at the scene, according to news reports.

Ingabire was an
outspoken critic of the Rwandan government. In 2007, he left Kigali, Rwanda's
capital, and began working as a correspondent for the critical online site Umuvugizifrom Kampala. He started working for Inyenyeri
last year, local journalists said.

Critical journalists
are not tolerated in Rwanda, CPJ research shows. Since April 2010, six
journalists fearing intimidation and arrests have fled in exile, according to
CPJ research. Two Rwandan journalists, Agnès Uwimana and Saidati Mukakibibi, currently
face lengthy prison sentences for charges that include insulting President Paul Kagame.

"We are saddened by
the killing of Charles Ingabire, which effectively silences yet another exiled
critical voice of the Rwandan government," said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom
Rhodes. "Ugandan police must do their utmost to investigate this murder and
ensure journalists can work freely without fear of reprisal in the country."

Police recovered
five casingsof a sub-machine gun at the scene of the crime as well as
Ingabire's cell phone, news reports said.
The police also held for questioning two employees of the bar, since the
journalist frequented the establishment, news reports said.

This was not the
first time Ingabire was attacked. Local journalists told CPJ that unknown
assailants attacked the journalist two months ago in Kampala, took the laptop
he was carrying, and demanded he shut down Inyenyeri.

Ingabire is the
second Rwandan journalist killed in less than two years, according to CPJ
research. In June last year, former deputy editor of Umuvugizi,
Jean-Léonard
Rugambage, was shot as he drove home in Kigali. Two suspects were convicted
on homicide charges, but CPJ and local journalists expressed deep skepticism
about the prosecution.